Key-operated mechanism.



No. 823,080. IATENTED JUNE I2, I906.'

l I. H. RICHARDS. KEY PERATED MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1899. RENEWED JULY 6, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inf/en t0n' N0.s23,o8ol PATENTED JUNElz, 1906.

' P. H. RICHARDS.

KEY OPERATBD MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1899. RENEWED JULY 6, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET z.

Witnesses: [Www/tofs PATENTED JUNE 12, 1906.

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY OPBRATED 'MBGHANISM APPLIGATION FILED APE .7, 1899. RENEWED JULY 6, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Inventar.'

Witnwsag' No. 823,0804 PATENTED JUNE l2, 1906.

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY OPBRATEDMECHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 7, 1899. RENBWED JULY 6, 1903.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 44 Welt/21eme@ PATENTED JUNE l2, 1906.

` F. H. RICHARDS. KEY OPERATED MEGHANISM.

APPLIoA-TION FILED APR. 7, 1899. RBNBWED JULY e, 190s.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 54 [7i/venan ull x lullllllllllllllu APPLICATION FILED APB. 7, 1899 RENEWBD JU L Y 6 1 9 0 3.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS 6,

- PATENTBD JUNE 12', 1906. I'

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY OPBRATBD MBCHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 7I 1899. RENEWBD JULY 6, 19,03.

10.823,030.- PATBNTED JUNB12,1906.

`-P.' H. RICHARDS. KEY OPERATED v1\Z[ECHA1\IISMl A'PPL-IGATION FILED APR. 7| 1899. RENBWBD JULY 6, 1903.

l v 9 SHEBTS-SHEET 8- Inventor:

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9,-

im v ...y .H .1, x gril, MM L mf ff .mf f/ i; m@ f my H.. ...Nw/. ...Im

uuml@ PATENTED JUNE l2, 1906.

F. H. RICHARDS. KEY OPERATED MEGHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1899. RENEWED JULY 6, 1903.

i UNiTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGN OR, BY MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, 'IO AMERICAN TYPOGRAPHIC CORPORATION ,s

A CORPORATION OF NEWv JERSEY.

KEY-OPERATED MECHANSNI.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rateateasune `12 190e,

Application led April'7, 1899. Renewed July 6. 1903. Serial No. 164,479.

To alii zij/wm it may concern:

Beit known that'I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a

'citizen of the United States, residing'at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and' Statefof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Operated Mechanisms, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates to im rovements in key-operated mechanisms, an especially to a type-Writing or analogous mechanism, and

is particularly adapted ior use in connnection with a certain( class ,of key-operated mechan-v ismssuch, for instance, as that described in my prior patents, Nos. 401,307 and 57 3,620,

granted April 16,1889, and December 22,

.from the use of the devices heretofore employed in this'class of key-operated mechanrigid, and as the severa endent upon the rotation of a turret or simiisms is that most of the 1parts arpracticaly operat ons are ear member at quite a high rate of speed a great deal of noise has resulted from the striking of the `parts u on one another While moving rapidly, `and t s has also caused unnecessary wear upon many ofthe, principal parts'of the mechanism. In the present construction, however, all of ithese parts` which are intended to come into contactwith and strike against other parts While moving at a considerablerate of speed are so` organized with respect t'otheir cdperatmg elements thatthe blow will be reduced very inaj terially, this result being usually attained by mounting either the moving or the xed art.

in such a manner that it will yield rea ily.

In some cases it will be found. preferable to mount the movable part in .such a manner thatit 'will yield when it strikes the resistant member andwill op ose its resistance thereto gradually and wit cumulative effect. All

of these coacting devices-maybe embodied.

advantageously in a mechanism substantially of the type illustrated in my prior patwhichV by means of suitable devices a rotary ent, No. 573,620, hereinbefore referred to, in

ment With a driving-gear the orbit of which A corresponds With that ofthe driven gear, the coupling and uncoupling of the latter bein effected at the proper points in its orbita l movement.

A mechanism of this type embraces within its orgalzation a large number of coperative parts, many of them absolutelynecessary to a complete and operative machine or mechanism, and the operations of those parts which are directly-de endent upon their travel in an orbit are a so interde endent ordinarily and certainly in this mac ne, 'as the proper o eration of the mechanism will only result W en a predetermined seqiibnce of move-v ments is observed, andthe starting of the r0- tation of one orbitally-movable member in this class of mechanism shouldy always set in motion in proper order many'other arts.l

Among the many coacting devicesinc uded Within the organizationof such a machineV there maybe manydierent sets of members, y

each of which sets may embody a movable member and a resistant memben'fand it is my aim with -respect to each .oneofthese sets to reduce the noise and also the Wear incident to the coming of the movable member into contact With the resistant member of such set. In the present mechanism there are 'at ,least four such sets of parts, allcoperative with one another and-so organized that the.

operation of the movable member of one set determines the setting in motion of the movable members of all the other sets.

One of these sets controls the starting of an-'orbit-y y ally-movable rotary driven gear rotating. second set is operative for` coupling such serves to uncouple'the driven gear from the .drivingl-gear, and a fourth set operates to stopt e rotationzof the driven gear, allof these sets not only coperating with one another, but all being brought into action in ay predetermined order and intheir ropertiming, andl each set having, as be ore stated,

one of its members so mounted as'to present a .l

yielding or-resilient facefto the complementary member of the set, and .thereby oppose a gradually-increasing or cumulative resistance thereto to decrease the noise and shock fdriven'gear to the driving-gear. A third set v driven gear is carried into and out of v engage- 'such a manner as to be readily settable from one position toanother and maintained in such position' until it is required `to shift it again, one of the main characteristics of this -latch or rei'rstant starter being that unlike-- other latches heretofore used it is not latched in place by a lockingelatch, which has to be released by another part before the latch'can be moved, but, on the contrary, is only held by reason of a yielding sliding engagement with some coacting part. Hence a latch of this type is always in position to be shifted in one direction or the other Without being previously released from a locked engagement with some other member. When this latch is set, therefore, by suitable `latch-setting means, only a single `movement of the latchsetting member is required and only a single partgviz., the latch itself-needs to be actu.- ated by such latch-settin member.

Ordinarily the settab e starter and the means by which it is side-guided will be in yielding engagement with each other in order that the starter may be held at vany point to which it may be moved, but'may not be free` to slip or be' shaken accidentall to a diii`er-.

The detent just re erred te mayent position. be and in this case is a yieldingmember, such as a side-guiding member, for engaging vsuch starterwand preventing improper movement of the latter. Inthe construction shown herein this detent or side-guiding device is a spring separate from the starter and suitably mounted adjacent thereto.I The starting member or latch itself may also be so conT structed as to co crate to the best advantage with such resilient detent and with suitable 'stop-walls for limiting` the longitudinal movements of the latch. For this reason and in order to decrease the noise which would result from the striking of a rigid latch against a fixed stop "I prefer to employ a latch having one or more yielding or spring stops which may be struck up from the body of the latch when the latter is formedirom sheet metal, as it will be ordinarily, and when so made thelatch will also have a beaded. working'end forming a rounded journatsurface adapted to cooperate with -a movable member or starting-arm and rotate the latter. V in each set of movable and resistant mem laeers hereinbefore referred'to one of the parts is intended to yield relatively to the other toA decrease the noise due to the shockof contact, and in this instance one of the starters will be yieldingly secured to its support, the movable starter being preferably .so mounted. As to this feature my present invention is in the nature'of a modification of a movement-starting mechanism shown, described, and claimed in a companion application. filed by me April 25, 1899, Serial No. 714,358. In such other application the noise due to this shock is decreased vby employing a movable starter or starting-arm made up of a plurality of resilient arms adapted to oppose their sev yeral rcsistances to the resistant starter or latch successively 'and with cumulative effeet; but in such other application this'gradual increase inthe resistance opposed to the resistance starter is secured by subdividing the movable starterinto a plurality of sucdessively-eii'ective members, all forming part oi one main starter fixed to a suitable support, whereas, in this case the starter, usually the movable one, is yieldingly secured..

to its support and may itself be a rigid member. The` preferred construction is a movable starter pivoted. to its support and having a suitable spring interposed between it and v the support. Y

Other features of my invention not hereinbefore referred to relate to the uncoupling means for carrying the driven gear out of..

mesh with the fixed driving-gear, to a detent device for holding the driven gear or rotary driven member after its rotation is stop ed, and to certain'A other improvements, a l of which will be hereinafter described in detail.

ln the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure lis-a plan of a simple formcf type-writing machine embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation ofthe same. Fig. 3

IOO

is a vertical sectional front elevation of the saine, the section being taken in the line 3 3,

Fie 2. Fig..4 is a central vertical longitudi- Y nal section of *nsaine. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the machine, illus` trating the turret, the type-wheels thereof, the 1.lrivingegeaig'and certain other devices. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional plan of a portion of the same, illustrating the resistant starters or latches and the movable startingarms cooperative therewith, the section being taken in line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fi s. 7 and 8 are enlarged details illustrating t e manner in which the latch and a starting-arm coperate with each other. Figs. 9 to 12,' inclusive, are enlarged details illustrating a starting-arm and a support or clip by which it is carried. Figs. 13 and 14 are details of the clip for supporting such starting-arm. Figs. 15 and 16 are details of the starting-arm. Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive, illustrate the manner in which the uncoupling means operates to shift the rotary driven member out of ac- IIO `25, inclusive, are enlarged details illustrating .the coupling and uncoupling-arins and thel detent device 'for a rotary driven gear mounted coneentrically with the axis of rotation of Mts support. Figs. 26 to 30, inclusive, are enn arged details illustrating the coupling and uncoupling arms and the detent device for a ro rotary driven gear mounted eccentricallyI to the axis of rotation of its support. Fig. 31 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the means for. stopping the rotation of one of thel rotary driven members. Figs. 32- to 37, inclusive, are enlarged details illustrating in different positions the detent device which I prefer to employfor holding the rotary driven member or gear after it has stopped rotating. Figs. 38 and 39 are details illustrating, respectively, zo the fixed and movable stops for stoppingthe rotation of the driven member. Figs. 4() to 42, inclusive, are details of the -fixed element of the uncoupling means and the shiftable member of such fixed element.

" enlarged detail illustrating the construction of the fixed element or cam of said uncoupling means, and Figs. 44 and 45 are details of one of the resistant starters or latches.

Similar characters designate like parts in 3o -all the figures of the drawings.

In the preferred construction my improve ment will be embodied usually in a mechanism similar in type to that illustrated in my prior patent, No. 573,620, in which I have 3 5 shown a starting mechanism controlling the operation of a driven gear shiftable from one to the other of two positions into and out of mesh with a driving-gear the orbit of which corresponds with that of the driven gear and 4o in which also suitable gear-shifting means `controlled by the starting mechanism is employed f-or coupling said driven gear to and vuncoupling it from the driving-gear to permit the driven gear to continue rotating after 45 it has been started and toassure the throwing out of action of the driven gear at the end of a predetermined period of operation.

Any suitable framework may be-employed for supporting the several operative parts o- 5o the mechanism, the framework illustrated in this case embodying a base A, connected by suitable sup orts 2 to a top plate A', between which and t e base A is an intermediate ari nular support A2.

Rising from the base A is a hollow column or base 3, which may support for'rotation the main shaft D of the mechanism, this shaft being intended to carry a rotary .turretor frame, such as H, which in turn may su port 6o for rotationrelative thereto a pair of rivenmembersl or spindles 8 and S', -roperly,

mounted for rotation in bearings in t e upper and lcwer'ends ofthe turret H. The turret H 1s supported inthe usual manner for rota- 155. tion 'on the vhollow column or post?, and is Fig. 43 is an mesh with the driving-gear and is shiftable I connected at its upper end to the main shaft'` Y l D in any suitable manner, as by means of a l washer 4, keyed thereto (see Figs. 1 and L'1) and secured to the shaft D by a nut 4. Both the spindle Sand the spindle 8 will ordinarily l be satin tapered bushings at their upper ends, said bushingsbeing indicated by 5 and 5 and being properly held in place and adjusted by means of nuts threaded on the ends thereof, l said bushings being adjusted up or down, as |may be desired, by properly turning these l nuts 9 and 9. At the lower ends thereof the I spindles 8 and Sare -also mounted in bushings and are adjusted and held in their adjusted 4positions by suitable adjusting-nuts and check-nuts, which will be apparent by reference to Figs. 4 and B7. support for rotation therewith substantially in the usual manner a driven gear, such as 12, which is adapted to be rotated, when in gear The spindle 8 may v therewith, by means of a driving-gear, such as the internal circular gear, (shown at 13.) Normally the driven gear is preferably out of longitudinally of its axis and transversely of the plane of the driving-gear into mesh therewith. Said driven gear is concentric with the axis of the spindle 8 and is intended to carry in unison therewith several of the parts controlling the operation of different elements ofthe mechanism, as will hereinafter lmore fully appear. It isA intended that the operation of the l mechanism shall be controlledfrom a suitable keyboard, a simple one being shown herein for this pur ose. This keyboard may be'niade up of a p urality of key-levers, such as 15, pivoted on the base A and held in theiry normal positions by'suitable springs, said keylevers being connected \in this instance by connecting-rods 15 to the arms arms suit ably supported on the annular lmember A2 ofthe framework, the arms 16 of Psaid ICO '16 of rock- ,lievers serving to operate corresponding i lateh-adtuators 17, which may beV curved strips slidable frame member A2 and preferably concentric with one another, these actuators or strips 17 on-the depression of the respective keys and 0returned to their normal positions by the latches or resistant starters when the latter are resfet by a starting-arm.

In connection with the several key-levers 15 I also deem it desirable to employ a spacekey or space-bar, which may be of the type illustrated herein at 1S, it consisting in this l on the framework and having at one side thereof a rearw ardly-extending arm 18, and it also having a universal bar 18 in position to be depressed by the key-levers 15 every time that one of the latter is operated. Hence the space-key willin this casey be operated whenever any of the keys of the keyboard is in proper guideways on the.v

rio

being shifted in one direction bythe arms 16" caseof a U-shaped frame properly pivoted manipulated., and thus may serve 'as the means for controlling the operation of a feed dcvicefor governing the feed movement of a suitable strip or other-traveling member" on which impressions are to be recorded. InA

the construction'herein illustrated the feed mechanism is of a very simple type and is intended-to feed a strip or tape of other suitable material from 'a rol or reel,

preferably properly tensioned.,y Here this.

- roll, Whichis indicated byr, is supportedon a verticali studi-15, a simple tension device 46 n'heilig-provided for maintaining the tape taut-- as 'it liB ed forward; The feedmechanismV embodies ril-:this case a connecting-rod 47d-, pivotedvt stud 49, supported on-v'the top plate A', and

roll 1.52',v mounted on 'another stud 49y just" .above the' lower roll and its stud, and betweenl these rolls the. tape is fed intermittently by the action of the pawl-and-ratchet device as the several Lkeysare operated. `0f course' each time that a key-lever or the space-bar isf l when the key-levers are depressed and willA operatedthe tape will be fed one space on the return of such key-lever or space-bar to its normal position; but the deviceslcarrierl by the turret mechanism will only be operated not be' actuated by the space-bar 18. As the tape or stri 53 is fed from the roll r it may ass aroun the face-of a platen, such as P,

4.efore it reaches 'the feed-rolls- 52 and 52',

a and this platen should be in position to perplaten `will advantageously be adjustable, as

'eriy with each impression member.

mit an orbitally-movable rotary impression member to make a record upon that portion y of the tape resting against the platen. This clearly illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, in order that it may be kept in position to coact prop- Tlie resistant starters or latches, which are intended to control the starting of the rotation of certain rotary parts carried by the turret H, may be supported in a suitable manner by the frame member A2 and may be dis- .posed in two sets one located above the other.

The resistant starters or latches L of the upperset are intended to coperate with a movable starter or starting-arm, such as S, carried by the spindle 8, `while the latches L-ofl the lower set are intended to coact in al simi- "construction, and a description of the conlpaper -or-- 'the'hrearzend of the arm 18 and.. operated j bythe latter and at its'up er endf' pivted to a link 4'8, -'loosely mounte onthe sse-,eea i inan arc-shaped or segmental support 60,

each .of these slideWays being somewhat curved longitudinally in Aorderthat it may conform toy-the shape of the resistant starter or latch which I prefer. to use. This ,lat-ch is "intended to lie in its slideway and zto be reciprocated backend forth, While heldin suchfa manner as to, prevent its jarring or shaking loose during theop'eration of the mechanism, and in order to 'prevent such loosening of the latch-the -latterandthe means by which itis A'side-guided will preferably be in yielding engagement with each other.

means may be employed for assuring sucha' Any suitable yieldingengagement as that just lmentioned but I prefer to employ in connection with the. y-latch a idatent with which the latch .may bev yieldingly'engaged'at all times and which may alsol serve as the side-guiding means therefor."i-Here this detent is in the form ci' a sprin such'as161, suitably supported at J one endb as .by being coiled within acircular opening 60, ofthe segment 60 Vand lying" 'againstone wall of the slide'way 60', the de-y tent part of the lspring being so located and' constructed as to ,tend to press the-latch against the opposite or ixed wall of the-'slide- 'j Way` and also at certain times to slip into la shallowrecess in the face of the latch and enl ga e a suitable detent-fa'ce of the latter.4

` n the preferred construction the latch itselr` will usually'be a sheet-metal one havin a beadedl working end .62, formed in the usua manner by turning over the end of the sheetmetal latch to form a rounded journal-surface with which the movable starting-arm may cooperate. Each latch will u'sua ly be bowed or bent, preferably in asimple curve, except at the point Where it is necessary to provide a shallow recess into which the detent Jmay slip to lock and hold the latchtemporarily in its normal retracted position, and this shallow recess may be formed by bending Vthe latch, as shown clearly in these views,

one Wall of the recess constituting a detentface 62', againstgwhieh the free end of the spring 61 .will rest when the latch is held by it. In this position not only'doesl the end ofl the spring 61 constitute a positive stop, but

roo.

I'Io

the spring .itself presses the latch firmly againstv the fixed wall of the slideway 60 andv holds the latch securely in place. This hold:

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upon the latch, however, is not in .the nature" o a locking hold, and the detent 61 does not;

have to be released b iirst shifting it awa 'from the latch beforet e latter can bemove' as isordinarily the case. On-the contrary', this holding-detent is one that is' relea'sab e by simply setting the latch'by` a longitudine? ieg i movement; but as the s eaaos .y 5

movement of the latter, and in the construction illustrated `herein the latch-actuating strip 17 is effective to push the latch inward and setv the same in its working posit ion when the proper key is depressed, the movement of the latch itself serving to force the holding end of the 'detent 61 u the camfshaped detent-face 62 of the latc without rst shifting the detent out of way by an independent action. In other words, this detent 61 is not a locking-detent, as all the other detents heretofore used for this purpose have been, so far as I am aware, but is a slip-detent, releasable by the mere action of shifting the latch inward. Not only does this construction permit the vsetting ofthe latch without first releasing a detent by a separate or independent ring 61 is always in contact with the latch t 1ere is practically no noise, and, moreover, these results are attained by an organization of devices having the smallest possible number of parts. As it is desirable, also, to prevent undue noise, which ordinarily results from the striking of a rigid latch against rigid stop-faces when moved back and forth, cushion devices or buffers may be used to advantage in connection with the latch herein shown. In this case one or more spring-stops may be employed, preferably formed integrall with the atch itself, one spring-stop serving to limit the movement of the latch in one direction and the other inthe other direction. Here the spring-sto which limits the forward movement of t e latch when the latteris projecting into the path of a movable startingarm, is indicated by 62 and projects from the convex face of the latch in order to brace the latter properly. For the same reason the other stop, which may be a U-shaped stop, such as 62', and which will of course limit the return movement of the latch, should reject from the concave face of said latch. hese two spring-stops will of course coperate with suitable fixed stops, which may be formed by side edges of suitable segments, one of which is indicated in Fig. 6 by 64. All of these latches hereinbefore referred to coperate with one orthe other of the two movable starters or starting-arms S and S', and in order to reduce the noise due to the striking of such starting-arm against the latch when the former is revolving rapidly one of such starters should be so mounted onl its support as to yield in the direction of revolution of the movable starter, andv thus cause the resistance of one part to the other to be presented gradually and with cumulative effect in such a :manner that'when the'parts come together there will be lbut little ,shock and slight noise,

and yet the full resistance of one member will arate.

be opposedto the other before the parts sepl In myco'mpanion application, Serial No.

A55 ZMQSSS, d April 25, 189,9, I have also illus trated a construction suitable for attaining this end, and in that case the movable starter or starting-arm is so constructed as not only to be turned by the latch with which it comes into contact, but is also formed in such a manner as to oppose a-gradually-increasing resistance to the resistant starter, and hence prevent the sudden starting of the movable starter. VIn that case, however, the latch is fixed to its support, whereas in this case the desired result is attained by mounting the starting-arm on its sup port in such a manner that the former will be capable of moving bodily relatively to the latter, the preferred construction being one in which the starting arm is pivoted to its support and has a spring interposed between the two members, this spring being so constructed or-proportioned as to permit the movablel starting-arm to yield when it strikes the set latch and cause the resistance of the latch to be opposed grad ually and with cumulative effect to the starting-arm, which will of course yield less and` less as it is being brought under tension or compression. A

Usually of course the starting-arm will embody a member or face capable or resetting the resistant starter or latch by which it is turned, and in the preferred construction the rotary startingarm will be a combined starter and resetter capable of opposing a gradually-increasing resistance of the starting-arm to the latch at the moment that such arm begins rotating, this construction also resulting in a gradual disengagement or separation of the ,coacting faces of the two starters on the resetting of the resistant starter or latch. Here the starting portion or face of the startin -arm S is designated by 26 and the resetting portion or face by 27, the toggling action exerted by the latter forl forcing the latch back to its normal position and resetting it before being disengao'ed therefrom being substantially similar to that described in my last-mentioned patent, No. 573,620, granted DecemberiZZ, 1896.

any suitable holding means may be employed for mounting the movable starters or starting-arms justdescribed; but in this case I have illustrated at lz., Figs; 6 to 14, 'inclusive, a holder or clip adapted to be secured to a rotary carrier or spindle that is journaled in the frame or turret H. tion illustrated this holder is a divided c lip which is held in place on the spindle by a seti screw, such as 7', and the starting-arm is pivoted on a pin 31, passed through ears, such as 30', which define the sides of a channel 30 of a Width sufficient to accommodate the starting-arm. One end of the back wall of this channel forms a stop for limitin the movement of the starting-arm in onetion, and the other end forms a similar stop for limiting th'e movement of said startingarm in the opposite directionand it will be IIO In the construcregulating the torce tobe opposed yuy tbl? axis of the turret; but it is sometimes neces- .is's

tickled, this s die is journaled is 4eccentric tot at of the spindle itself, as

.surface1 on whichv a support orthe purpose of. taking up the seaoso noted that the range ci' this movement is but sleeve 12 substantially. similar in most reslight. l spects to the long sleeve 12 of the driven i Any suitable yielding medium maybe inl' gear ft2. The bushing 5f may be turned to terposed between. the starting-arm and its adjust the spindle 8 and its impressionnismber by moving sa`d member toward or from the axis .ci the turret, the nuts 9 serving to shock. due to the striking of 'the movable' h starting-arm against thetined starter; but l loch-the' bushing in its adjusted position.

refer to employ a helical spring, suchjas 2S, 'lt willbe apparent, of course, that the gear which works ina bore .32cm the cliph', this 12' and thel spindle 8 should be suitably con-- bore beingthreaded atene end to receive an'` nested iorrctation in unison in order that adjusting stop-screw 33 'for the pur? ose c@ :the impression member carried by said spin- .dle may be operated, IIn the construction spring when the starters corne-intocmutant.` p lt will be noted. that4 tbisspring is almost en- :vine-for this purpose, it being in the nature of tirely concealed and is very sensitive and a universal connection between a collar on positive in its action. the spindle and another collar carried by the An important feature of myV-*present long hub` 12' ln this case the spindle 8 provements is the provision of means 'for emhas secured thereto a collar 66', with oppoloying impression members or wheels oi difsitely-extending arms 67A', bifurcated and ierent diameters. Ordinarily these impresbored to receive the shanlrs of a pair of pins sion-wheels may be of the same diameter and 68' which are also biturcated at their upper may be located at equal distances romtho ends 'and properly. bored to receive the pins 69 of a coupling-ring 69, located between vthe.coupling-sleeve and the hub 12 on sary'to malte them of different diameters,

the sleeve 5' and the sleeve 66 onthe spinand when this is lthe case a plurality oiinternal gears of d illerent diameters would usually be required to operate them. By means of the devices shown-in the drawin s of the present application l am, enabled to rive imcated ortions ot the pins and arms just menpression members of diderent diameters from x tiene `'Two ofthe arms 69 are in this case a single internal gear or rack, and this is the passed through corresponding bores in the biprincipal function-'of the eccentric driving r'u'rcated ends of another pair of pins 70', mechanism for operating the large impression-- wheel. The im ression member or wneel, which is ofsmal. er diameter or radius, will oi 'ing'ly-bifurcated lu' s 7l', integral with the course be mounted in such 'a manner that its collar 65. ghese evices just described conaxis of rotation Will'be more -remote irom the stitute auniv'ersal connection or star-.coupaxis of the turret than is the axis of. the larger ling by means of which' the driven gear and ression member or' Wheel. in order that the spindle are enabl d to'rotate in unison about dlerent axes',-vv hile. at the same time t larger impression member or wheel may be driven in proper timing, however, l prefer the driven gear may be reciprocated longitudinally of its axis on the sleeve 5', and thus toconnect it with a driven gear mounted-eccarried into or outfnt imasn'with its coacting centrically thereto, this organization of the driving-gearvor 'hired' circular rack. Both the' collar 66' andthe collar 65'.are split parts bein especially desirablel for operating sleeves or collars and willbe securely rasthe severa driven ears for several impression members or w eels from 'the same retened, the one to the spindle and the other to the hub 12"', by lneans of suitable clampingsistant ydriving gear lor rack. l

--The manner in which 1 prefer to mount screws in the ordinary manner. y

It has already been pointed out that in an the driven gear for the impression'member or wheel of large diameter is shown mest clearly organization ol." mechanism of this type it is of the utmost importance to prevent unnecin Fi s. 4 and 5 and 26 to'SO, inclusive. The spin e 8 is intended to carry this impres- Sion member cf large diameter and usually essary shock and pounding of the parts upon one another as the radially-moving elements of the turret come into contact with the other members with which they cooperate,

lso carry with it' in its orbital movemertta rotatable driven gear suitabl mountas unless this pounding is materially reduced the noise due thereto will be almost intolered thereon, As has .beenliereinbel ore menable.. The manner in which the shock due to y y 1na lon 5'., the `periphery of whic the striking of the starting-arm against the latch is reduced to a minimum has been hereinbefore described, and the'mannerin which in for adjusting thepositions of the bifurtion in the bored openings of correspondsleevel or bus will apparent by referring to the drawings, and .thefperi hery of this eccentrically-bor'ed bushing or s eeve is intended to" be a )ournaldrivel/.gear kmay f for rotation. Such a driven gearisf ling operations are reduced will now be set illustrated. vtherein at 12', it' having a long'. lforth.

vwhich in turn are supprted for reciproca-v shown herein l have illustrated a suitable de- Suitable adjusting-screws are shown here- IOO be the shocks due to the coupling and uncoupl In the construction illustrated the orbit* ally-movable elements of the coupling and f' uncoiipling means will preferably be carried directly by the driven gears, which mesh with the fixed internal gear or circular rack, and these movable coupling anduncouplin f elements will usuallybe the ones which will yield during the coupling and uncoupling actions. In this case ,the coupling members carried by the driven gears 12 and 12 are preferably separate parts detachably secured to said gears and may be of the construction illustrated at 36 and 36', Figs. 21 to 30, inclusive. fEach of these movable coupling elements is.' mounted to yield relatively to the v driven gear and preferably will be a springarm having a cam-shaped working face, the

whole constituting a spring-cam which will yield when it iirst comes into contact with the coperative resistant coupling member o r cam-face and will enable the driven gear' to vmove gradually into true mesh with the fixed internal gear, and if the driven gear does not move properly into mesh at first it 2 5 v y such movable coupling element. Obviously will yield sui'liciently to prevent breaking of as the driven gear is out of mh with the V fixed driving-gear when the movablemernber or .spring-cam comes into engagement with its coacting coupling member such movable coupling member may be so constructed as'to be capable of yielding to a very much greater extent than is necessary in the case of the movable uncoupling member, for which:

-it is only necessary to provide a working face sufficiently yielding to reduce the shock incident to the striking of the uncoupling inembers against each orner wheuthe driven gear is shifted out of action. f

For the above reason theumainportions of the two' uncoupling membersv or cams may be somewhat heavy and in this` case Will prefer-J ably be ixed cams', such as. 39 and 39', tinte'- gral with the respective split collars or sleeves and 65', clamped v,to the spindles 8 and 8. vIn each case, however, l have shown herein a separate yielding working portion for each of the fixed cams 39 and 39, and theseyielding-l members will preferably be resilient sheet metal faces, such as 39 and 39', ro erl'/ P P Y to a minimum'.

the oil'which works intosuch space will all in practice -be factors in cushioning the cam,

' and thus preventing undue noise. Both the sheet-metal coupling-cams land the? coupling members or spring-arms are preferably se arate parts in' orden that they may be rea 'ly and economically renewed when damaged or worn. y

The resistant coupling and uncoupling members which operate with the parts just described may be substantially similar in construction to the corresponding members illustrated in my prior patent', Nc. 573,620, hereinbefore mentioned. These resistant coupling members or cam-faces are desigJ nated herein in a general way by 37 and 40, respectively, the former being the couplingcam and the latter the uncoupling-cam. lt is desirable that the uncoupling-cam segment at least shall be so constructed as to deaden the blows of the resilient cam-arms 39 and 39 to a still greater extent, and for this reason the cam-face 40 is preferably a sheet metal one, ,(-see F ig. 1-3,) between which and its fixed support may be interposed suitable means for absorbing vvibration and deadening the sound due to the blows received thereon. In this case I have illustrated a fiber block 75, between which and the sheet metal cani 4() may be interposed a strip of leather or similar material, such as 76, which, it should benoted, will at all points separate such sheet-metal cam from its support. These parts may be secured to a support by means of screws, such as 77, and in order to prevent transfer of sound by the latter a leatherwasher, such as 7 8, may be interposed between the head of the'screw and the plate 40, all of the parts at the point of connection being preferably countersunk, as illustrated. It will be understood, of course, that the turret'mechanisrn should be continuously rotated in orderfthat the starting-arms and other orbitally-'movable elements may be preparedto coperate with the resistant ac- IOO` tuat-ors corresponding thereto Whenever onel j of the key-leversis depressed. Any means may be employed for effectin this -`move ment of the'turret, a band-wieel bbeing shovmin this case, which may be rotated continuously from .any suitable source ofV power.

yWhenever either -of the driven gears 12 and '-iZqis to be coupled tothe driving-gear 13, the starting-arm thereon Will of course'first Gome'intocontact Witha set latch and start suchV driven gear and its spindle rotating,

`after which the rotation thereof will be continued Kby v'reason of the coupling of the driven gear tothe driving-gear when the ing'iixed cam, 37. During this coupling action the driven gear or member will be shift* ,ed longitudinally of its axis, and hence has three movements-one an orbital movement, another'a movement 'of rotation, and a third a lmovement of reciprocation axially/of the carrier or spindle on which it is supported. -Some means should, ofcourse, be employed for holding each driven gear'in mesh with its 'spring-:arm 36 or 36 rides up the corresponduntil the gear' reaches a prededriving-gear termined point in its orbit, and hence I have illustrated herein suitable detent devices for secured thereto a split collar 66, substantially similar to that shown at 66', and on this is supported a detent-lever 7 which is pivoted on a smoothportion of the shank of a clamp-l ing-screw-SO, which helps to hold the collar in position on the shank. 'A spring 34 may serve to hold the detent in position to latch the driven gear in either of its extreme positions, said lever having at its working end a pair of cam-faces either one oivwhich may engage a pin or other member on the collar .65. Here the lever works`in contact with a smooth portion of the eriphery of a clamp-l ing-screw 82, lwhich hoilds the-split collar in lace on the sleeve 12". The manner in which this detent operates will be apparent by referring to these views. The sleeve 65 is guided in this case in its movements by a pair of -depending guides 68, which vwork in slots in the arms 67 on the collar 66.

The manner in which the sleeves 65 and 66 are connected with each otherl in order to plermit reciprocation of the driven gear 12 as been hereinbei'ore described, and a similar form of detent device is employed in con- I Here the detent'employed is indicated by 7 secured. to the collar 65.

nection therewith to hold the driven gear and its sleeve in either of their extreme positions.

and is carried at one end of a spring-arm 34', rThe detent 7 is intended to fit into either one oi' a pair of notches 7 0" in one of the pins 7 0 in a man? ner which will be apparent by referring .to Figs. 26 to 30, inclusive.

As the latches are disposed at different points in the orbits .of movement of the starting-arms, the rotation of each starting-arm, and hence of the parts controlled thereby, will begin at a point corresponding to the posi- .tions of the latch, which of course will correspond with that ofthe character or -die which are indicated herein by it governs.

The two impression members or die-wheels W and W and may be of any suitable construction, but will preferably be annular members at the upper ends of the spindles 8 and 8', respectively, and held in place by clamp-nuts, such as 85 and 85', screwed on to the threaded upper threaded ends of reducedportions oi' these spindles. (See particularly Fig. 4.) The separate impression members or type-dies on these wheelswill be spaced somewhat close together when it is desired to make use oi a large number of dies on a single wheel, which is t' e ease in the construction shown in Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive. Three of these impresuncoupling means,

`Asion devices or diesvare indicated hereinhy wfg and z, and, as will be seen, are close together.- Of course each of these dies will be of the wheel W at a diiierent point in its orbit from that vat which its rotation commences lV when either of the other two 1s selected by its appropriate latch, and this being Vthe case it follows, of course, that after the wheel has been properly operated it will be thrown out of action by uncoupling the driven gear at a different point in its orbit-from that, at which it would be uncoupled Jfor either oi 4the other two dies. The-intervals between the points at which such die-wheel andits driven gear are uncoupled and thrown out oi action correspond, oi course,vto the intervals between the dies on such type-wheel, andas this interval is comparatively small the uncoupling arm or cam 39 willlof course come into contact with the uncoupling-cam 40 at points correspondingly close together. Moreover, it is desirable to rotate the wheel W a diiierent number` of times when certain of the characters are selected from what it is when certain others are starting-latches are disposed in different orbital positions and st'art said wheel rotating at diilerent points in its orbit and because the length oi' the throw-out lcam is limited, and this being the case it will be seen that if the cam-face 4() were a solid one throughout its entire length and the uncoupling-cam 39 were to rotate in the path illustrated in Fig. .17 the uncouplng action would not take place until the arm 39 reached a point near the end of the cam-face 40, while if it were to rotate in the-paths shown in Figs. 18 and 20, corresponding wheel for the characters y and z, the arm 39 and the driven gear and the wheelWwould be thrown out oi action as soon as the arm 89 came into contact with the cam-face 40. Ii, however, it is desired to permit the arm 39 ,to make another rotation when the character y is selected, (see Fig. 18,) then it is evident that some means must be provided for preventing the throwing out of action oi the driven gear and the wheel W at this point.

Forthe above reasons l have found it expedient to employ a'fixed uncoupling member having a movable element, and this constitutesione of the most important features of my present. improvements. In the construction shown one oi the members of the y in this case the iixed member 40, has a shiitable section preferably oi thc type shown clearly in these views. Usually it will be an oscillatory member, such as 40, complementary to the main fixed member 4.0 of the uncoupling means-that is to say, the cam-face thereof will be shaped to correspond with that of the iiXed member 4() and will be in the same plane therewith. -In l the construction 'illustrated this oscillatory brought into actionby starting the rotation to be used, because the roo IIS

section is pivoted on the smooth shank of a screw 87, threaded into a suitable supporting member. (See Fig. 42.) The adjacent end of the fixed member 4() is in this case cut away obliqnely, as at 40V, in order to permit a slight movement of the shiftable sectionon its pivot, said oblique face 40 forminrr a stop for limiting the movement of the shiftable section in one direction, while the straight end face of the fixed member forms a stop for limiting the movement ofthe shiftable section in the opposite direction. A such as 88, may be employed for holding the shiftable section lin its normal position away from the-fixed member 40, as seen in Fig. 17.

If now the character a: has been selected, the wheel W will be rotated in the path shown in Fig'. `17, and the arm 39 will not strike either the shitable section 40 or the main cam 40. If,however, the character y has been selected, then as the rotation of the wheel is started at a dierent point the arm 39 will not traverse the same path as that shown in Fig. 17 but instead will come into contact with the section 40 and Ywill shift the same, as shown in Figs. 1 8 and 19, but will not be thrown out of action thereby, as the shii'table section will yield vent the iineouphng of the driven member or gear and the wheel W by the uneouphng-arm 39.- It', however, the character z is selected, the rotation of the wheel will begin at still another point, and in its travel the point of the arm 39 will assume a position about inidway between the shiftable section 40 and the fixed section 40, `and the cam-face of said arm will strike against the cam-face of said shii'table section andiwill exert a thrust or pressure thereon in a direction opposite to that in which it shifts the section 40 tothe position shown in Fig. 19. Hencev as the pressure or force exerted on this shiftablesection' is upward and toward the, right, as seen in Fig. 20, this section will atl/such time constitute a fixed member o r rigid abutn'ient, and the resistance op Y osed thereby to the arm 39 will of,

course e suflicient to shift said arm, its driven gear, and the wheel W away from the fixed member of' the uncoupling means, and hence out of action.

For the .purpose ol preventing overrunning of the driven gear and wheel on either spindle S or 8 aftenthe nneoiipling of the driven gear from the driving-gear I prefer to employ in connection therewith means for checking or stopping the rotation thereof. In the preferred construction this stopping means will embody two coniplementary parts, one ot which will he a member movable with the driven gear and its wheel, while the other will be alresistant device in struck thereby. These parts, however, like the others hereinbefore described, should be sufliciently to pre-- pressure is exerted by it whenposition to bey of these are employed, one for each drivenv gear ,but as a description of one of the movable stoppinlg members will suffice for both but one of t em will bedescribed in detail,

appropriate prime-marks'being` employed to designate corresponding parts of the otherl movable member. Here this stopping-arm, which is designated by 90, is carried by' a split ring or collar 91, clamped to the spindle 8 and adjustable to any desired position thereon; (See Figs. 31 and 39.)

In order to subdivide the resistance opA posed by this arm to the fixed member with which it cooperates, I prefer to make` use of a plurality of yielding members or spring-arms, such as 92, disposed one in advance of the other in such a manner as to oppose a gradually increasing or cumulative resistance to the fixed member in substantially themanner hereinbefore described with reference to the starting-arms. The s ring-arms 92 may be detachably secured to t ie fixed arm by a set-screw 93 anda keeper-plate 94. The fixed member which coacts with this stoparin will preferably ber a cushioned arc concentric with the axis of the turret H, and in the construction illustrated an arc-shaped plate 95 is employed having integral clips 95 by means of which it 'may be located in -position., it being held in place in this instance'by an arc-shaped keepenplate 96, screwed onto a fixed portion of the framework, a strip of yielding material, such as the leather strip 97, being interposed between the plate 95 and the edve of the keepenolate 96 in order to reduce t e noise. (lt course .the plate 95, being loosely held in place by the clips 95 in the direction of the thrust of the arm 90, will 'be free to n'iove, slightly as the stop-arm comes into contact therewith.

While it is desirable to make use of the stopping means just described to check and stop the rotation of the driven gears and their type-wheels, said devices are not sufficient for the purpose of bringing these rotary members to a stop in a definite and certain position each time, and while they operate effectively to bring these driven members almost to a standstill I prefer to employ means more positive in their action to stop and hold each of the driven members in the same rotative position each time that one of them is thrown out of action. Two ot these holding means or d etent devices are emiloyed herein, one for each of the separately-rotati ve dri ren members, and as not h of them are of the sa me construction a description of one will sulliee for both, the two devices being indicated in a general way by a' and il', respectively.

One ot the most important features of this 15o led toward and from the axis oft s indle 8 by adjusting clampi rof which are substantiall part of my present improvements is the employment of a detent device in which the parts are so constructed and organized that the part which serves as the detent proper will have but a slight movement forthe urpose of latching or locking the part to be eld thereby, and this movement will be in such a direction as to decrease the shock upon the contacting parts and to render the operation of the device almost noiseless. The locking orilatching of the driven member is intended to be effected by the detent device by a movement of the latter in a direction longitudinally of the axis of the driven member which it is intended to hold, and in the preferred construction this detent will ,not only move in the direction just stated, but will also have a movement toward and from the axis of such rotary driven member or impression member, which movement will usually be controlled by a circumferential cam-face having no quick let-off face down Which the detent may drop, as such a construction would result in violent shocks upon the moving parts, Instead the circumferential cam-face on the driven member will preferably be combined with a lateral cam-face tapering or diverging from the plane of the major portion of the circumferential cam-face, and the two oamfaces will preferably coact in such a manner as to shift the detent in one direction during one portion of the rotation of the driven member and its cam and in another direction transverse thereto during another portion of such rotation.' In the -construction illustrated herein (see Figs. 32 to 37, inclusive) I have shown a cam 100 of suitable construction, lthe cam-faces thereof` being preferably formed on a sleeve removably secured to the 0'.sc rews 101, t e ends of which are inten ed to abut against coacting stop-faces 102,. formed by cut-away portions "103 of the spindle, this construction being the same as that described in my companion application hereinbefore referred to for the purpose--of holding and adjusting a starting-arm on its shaft. This cam 100 in the present case has. two different cam-faces, one' of which is a circumferential cam-face, such as 104, all portions arallel with the axis of the spindle 8', an t e other is a lateral cam-face 105, all the portions of which are transverse and approximately perpendicular to such axis. 1

Any suitable detent may be employed in connection With this controlling-cam; but I prefer to make use of a detentcapable of reciprocation in a strai ht line in an oscillatory frame in order that t 1e former mayl be shifte spindle by the circumferential cam-face and lon itudinally of such axis by the iateralcamace.

3111611181106 ulldll IIOISG.4

seaoeo This frame may be substantialiyof the type indicated hereinby 106, being pivoted on a suitable portion of the turret and' having a sleeve 107, in which a detent-rod 108, having at the end thereof a roller-detent 109, is mounted for reciprocation. This roll 109 will ride on the circumferential c'am-face104 when in its normal position, it being heid there, preferably, by a suitable spring, such as 110, which tendsto force it into the plane of the major portion of this'cam-face, the rod or spindle 108 having a sto 112 at theend opposite the roll 109 in or er to locate the latter in such normal position.' At a pre-determined point in the rotation of the cam 100 the outer side of the roll 109 will come into contact with the initial end of the lateral cam-face 105 and will be shifted or reciprocated sidewise in o positionto the force of the spring-110 unti said roll is on the eir-- cumferential cam-face 113, as shown clearly in Fig. 36. As the cam continues to turn the roll 109 will continue to ride on the camface 113 until it reaches the depression 114 between the cam-faces 113 and 104, when it will ride gently down said cam-face 114 and substantially at the same time will reach the end of the cam-face`105, whereupon the spring 110 will become effective to shift the roll 109 quickly to its normal position in the plane of the cam-face A104, andthis movement will bring it directly in front of the stop face or point 115. Hence the roll Awill not only be in the recess formed bythe camface 114, and thereforenin position to hold the cam and prevent further rotation thereof and all the parts controlled thereby, but it will also be directly in front of this stop-face 115 and being in contact therewith wi l prevent any movement dle in the opposite direction.` it suitable Spring, turret and .may controll a pressure-pm 117, which by contact with a movable part ofthe oscillatory frame 106 ma force the frame toward the axis of 4the spindle 8, and hence cause the roll 109 to drop into the recess 114 when the roll comes' opposite thelatter. In this case I have iilustrated a screw-bolt 118 on this frame 106, against 'which' bolt the pin 117 may exert its force.

From the foregoing descri tion of this detent it will be evident that tiie roll 109 has a very slight movement towardandfrom the axis of the spindle 8 and 'that owin to the construction of the cam-face 114. nos rock or noise will result from its travel thereover. It will also be evident that as it comes in front! of the positive stop-face V115 the m'oment that it is reciprocated to its locking positin the' cam will be held positively such a manner as to l the shaft, and tris Without any shock upon the moving parts such as would result if the of the cam and its spm-v such as 116, may be carried by the IOO IIO

revent return movement of of the parts are -ating to release itself from therewith when the latch .is set.

seaoso lng violently into lcontact with thestops provided therefor unless some means w'ere employed for deadening the blow. In order to do this effectively, I prefer to employ in connection therewith dash-pots, which may be formedby complementary male and female members on those parts which come into contact,.thev sleeve 12, 24, having in this case a recess 120, coacting with a complementary projection 121 on the split sleeve same diameter and so constructed that when they come together the cushion of air compressed therebetween will prevent shock, hence noise. The corresponding meeting partsof the modified form of device s hoWn' coacting mth a corresponding recess in the Of course the other. pin and lug 7 0 A ave corresponding complementary male and female members, forming a similar dash-pot.

From the foregoing description of m improved key-.operated mechanism it will be apparent (that all of the several parts which are brought into contact with one another on the mampulation of the keys are effectively' cushioned, to prevent'undue noise and that although many of the arts are constantly cominginto contact in t 's manner `all of the parts are'so'organized that in operation the machine is almost noiseless. Moreover, all capable of adjustment with great precision, and those upon -Which most oft e wear comes may be readil renewed at sligh. cost without substituting use.

Having described my invention, I claim` 1. e combination with'a detent and a settable starter-actuating latch in gagement `with said latch but cooperative detent, of a latch yin yielding e detent and operthe latter during 2. 'Ihe combination with a settable vstarter-actuatin slld hesetting of or the latch m opposition 'to the the latch latch-setting means rictional hold of the detent; and an orbitally-movable starter normally out of en agement with said latch but coperative t erewith when the latch is set.

v he combination with asettable starteractuating latch, of a detent in frictional engagement with one face. of the latch; latchsetting means for shifting and setting the therewith when the latcli is atcb-setting means -for shifting and 'setting the latch'in opposition to the Y tional engagement with one face of the latch; 'l 66, the projection and the recess being ofthe l an orbitally-movable starter l engagement with said latch frictional hold ofA ,the detent; and an orbitally-settable starter normally out of engagement with said h but coperative therewith when the latch is set.

` 5. 'The combination With a settable latch g having a detent-race, of a resilient detent in face of theV frictional engagement with one latch'and normally in contact with said detent-face when the latch is in. its idle position; latch-setting means for shifting and setting said latch in opposition to the frictional hold of the detent; and a movable starter normally out of engagement with said latch but coperative therewith when the latch is set.

6. In combination with a resistant starter, a movable starter normally out of engagement with the resistant` starter but coperative therewith when the resistant starter is set, one of said starters having a yielding stop.

` In combination with a resistant starter, a movable starter' normally out of engagement with the resistant starter but coperative therewith when the resistant starter is set, one of said starters havmgspring-stops.

IOO

a movablestarter normally out of` ment with the resistant starter but ative therewith A, set, one ofsaid starters having spring-stops at different points in its length.

9. In combination with a resistant lsheetmetal starting member havin an integral 'sprmg-stop struck up-'from the `ody thereof,

a movable starter normally out of engagement with the resistant starter but coperative therewith when the set. 'A

10. In combination with a resistant sheetmetal starting member havin a pair of integral spring-stops struck u Irom and pro- ]ecting from opposite sides-o the body there-l of, a movable starter normally out of engagement with the resistant starter but. coperative therewith when the resistantstarter is set.

resistant starter is 

